Bowling shoe with guide means



Jan. 11, 1966 M. A. IAMS 3,228,123

BOWLING SHOE WITH GUIDE MEANS Filed Oct. 21, 1964 United States Patent3,228,123 BOWLING SHOE WITH GUIDE MEANS Michael A. Iams, 3605 TerryAve., Billings, Mont. Filed Oct. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 405,348 1 Claim.(Cl. 362.5)

This invention relates to aids for improving bowling scores, and moreparticularly to a stance alignment device for bowlers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bowling aid whichwill be secured by gluing it to the external portion of a bowling shoeoutsole so as to aid the bowler in aligning himself correctly each timehe is ready to bowl a ball down the alley.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bowling aidwhich will remain on the bowlers shoe to enable him to make a quick,visual reference to his foot alignment with respect to the flooring ofthe alley.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a bowling aidwhich will be in kit form and will have the necessary instructions,cement and the bowling aid preshaped and enclosed within a transparentplastic envelope.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a bowling aid bearing theabove objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimumnumber of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and efficient inoperation and use.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention,reference may be had to the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a bowling shoe with guide meanscomprising the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side view of the present invention shown inelevation; and

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing the invention in packaged kitform.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, a bowling shoe with guidemeans is shown to include a strip of flat, hard leather 12 having aconcave side 14 which is secured externally to the shoe along thestitched area of the outsole 16. Leather strip 12 is secured to thearcnately curved exterior surface of the outsole 16, and the rearwardedge of leather strip 12 is arcuately curved, and the forward edge ofsaid leather strip 12 is at right angles to the straight outside edge ofstrip 12. Glue provides adhesive means for securing strip 12 to thebowling shoe 18 and thus provides a non-movable means for aligning theleft bowling shoe 18 which hereinafter will be described. An amount ofexcess material 21 is cut off of leather strip 12, leaving a straightedge 22 which may be aligned with one of a plurality crevices 24 betweenthe floor boards 25 of the bowling alley to enable the bowler tovisually check and quickly adjust his stance each time he bowls.

In use, glue 20 is placed along the stitched area of outsole 16 on theexternal inside of the left bowling shoe 18 and also along the concaveside of leather strip 12, after which strip 12 is pressed into position.The bowler then slips on the shoe 18, and align-s himself with thebowling alley, assuming his particular bowling stance. The bowler thenscribes a line on the top of leather strip 12 which will align with thecrevice 24 between floor boards 25 of the bowling alley, and he thencuts off the excess material 21 which will leave a straight edge 22 foralignment with crevice 2-4.

It will be noted that leather strip 12 is placed in the same relativeposition on the right foot of a lefthand bowler.

In FIGURE 3, .-a kit 26 is shown to include a transparent plasticenvelope 28 having a precut leather strip 30. Leather strip 30 has aconcave side 32 and a straight edge 34 opposite side 32, and one end isarcuately curved while the other end is at right angles to straight edge34. A capsule 36 filled with glue, and an instruction sheet may also besupplied within envelope 28 for the reasons heretofore described.

In use, envelope 28 is opened in the well known manner and the contentsof kit 26 is removed, and applied to a bowling shoe in the same manneras described for the main embodiment of the present invention.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shallbe understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention as defined by the appended claim.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

A bowling shoe having an upper and an outsole attached thereto, theimprovement comprising a strip of leather material having a concave sideedge adapted for attachment to a corresponding arcuately curved exteriorsurface of the outsole of the left shoe of a bowler, a straight outsideedge, a rearward edge being arcuately curved and a forward edge beingsubstantially normal to said straight edge of the outside of saidleather strip whereby said straight outside edge will form a guide to bealigned with the longitudinal edges of the alley flooring to properlyposition the foot of the bowler for delivery of a bowling ball.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANK I. COHEN,Primary Examiner.

